Former Bush Aide Charged in Felony Theft

[kpete]

Former Bush Aide Charged in Felony Theft
Claude Allen had recently resigned as White House domestic-policy adviser.
By Rachel Shteir
Updated Friday, March 10, 2006, at 5:44 PM ET


When Claude Allen, President Bush's longtime domestic-policy adviser, resigned suddenly on Feb. 9, it baffled administration critics and fans. The White House claimed that Allen was leaving to spend more time with his family, while the Washington Times speculated that the 45-year-old aide, a noted social conservative, might have quit to protest a new Pentagon policy about military chaplains. Allen himself never publicly explained the reason for his departure.

News today may shed light on the mystery of Allen's resignation. According to the Montgomery County Police Department, Allen was arrested yesterday and charged in a felony theft and a felony theft scheme. According to a department press release, Allen conducted approximately 25 fraudulent "refunds" in Target and Hecht's stores in Maryland. On Jan. 2, a Target employee apprehended Allen after observing him receive a refund for merchandise he had not purchased. Target then contacted the Montgomery County Police. According to a source familiar with the case, Target and the police had been observing Allen since October 2005.

Allen is charged with practicing a form of shoplifting called "refund fraud."

http://www.slate.com/id/2137895/

[malaise]

1. What a gang of thieves, murderers

and con men. A culture of corruption cannot begin to describe these people.

Gr.

[goforit]

19. God told him to do it!!!...He'll have his bible in his hand during court!!

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. Behold: The administration that would restore integrity to the White House

:crazy:

[JuniperLea]

12. That depends, I suppose...

On how you define "integrity". I'd bet dimes to donuts that the DU definition would differ from that of... BWA BWA BWEEEEEE... The Bush Regime.

[FreedomAngel82]

37. The adults are in charge people!

[Coexist]

3. and the hits just keep comin'

:headbang:

[Swamp Rat]

11. The Bushler Gang = war criminals AND petty thieves

Damn! They are corrupt!... from the most grave to the most petty. :eyes:

[sinkingfeeling]

4. Bush really surrounds himself wih winners, doesn't he?

[C_U_L8R]

5. Nothing is beneath the Culture of Corruption (tm)

I bet they are also responsible for 99% of the spam I get too.... the assholes

[gatorboy]

6. Prepare for more to "spend time with their families"

Preferrably during visitors hours at he local federal prison...

[Frustratedlady]

13. Now, We Know Why They Are Building New Prisons....

At the rate the Repugs are going, they'll have one of the new 5000-bed prisons filled. Where does it end?

[Fridays Child]

7. Cavalcade of Republican Family Values, episode number 7,985.

eom

[BuyingThyme]

8. Maybe he's spending time with Gale Norton's family.

[OneTwentyoNine]

9. Bawhhahah....resorts to stealing from Target?!?!?!?!?

Jesus...those FUCKS will DO ANYTHING but actually WORK for a living!

[Garbo 2004]

21. Yeah, pretty lame, huh? Guess he wasn't important enough to engage

in stock swindles or big money jobs. Employed at the White House and busted for ripping off Target. Pathetic.

[caligirl]

10. Here we go again.

http://www.armchairsubversive.com/
* Republican County Constable Larry Dale Floyd was arrested on suspicion of soliciting sex with an 8-year old girl. Floyd has repeatedly won elections for Denton County, Texas, constable.

* Republican judge Mark Pazuhanich pleaded no contest to fondling a 10-year old girl and was sentenced to 10 years probation.

* Republican Party leader Bobby Stumbo was arrested for having sex with a 5-year old boy.

* Republican teacher and former city councilman John Collins pleaded guilty to sexually molesting 13 and 14 year old girls.

* Republican campaign worker Mark Seidensticker is a convicted child molester.

* Republican Mayor Philip Giordano is serving a 37-year sentence in federal prison for sexually abusing 8- and 10-year old girls.

* Republican Mayor John Gosek was arrested on charges of soliciting sex from two 15-year old girls.

* Republican County Commissioner David Swartz pleaded guilty to molesting two girls under the age of 11 and was sentenced to 8 years in prison.

* Republican legislator Edison Misla Aldarondo was sentenced to 10 years in prison for raping his daughter between the ages of 9 and 17.

* Republican Committeeman John R. Curtain was charged with molesting a teenage boy and unlawful sexual contact with a minor.

* Republican anti-abortion activist Howard Scott Heldreth is a convicted child rapist in Florida.

* Republican zoning supervisor, Boy Scout leader and Lutheran church president Dennis L. Rader pleaded guilty to performing a sexual act on an 11-year old girl he murdered.

* Republican anti-abortion activist Nicholas Morency pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography on his computer and offering a bounty to anybody who murders an abortion doctor.

* Republican campaign consultant Tom Shortridge was sentenced to three years probation for taking nude photographs of a 15-year old girl.

* Republican racist pedophile and United States Senator Strom Thurmond had sex with a 15-year old black girl which produced a child.

* Republican pastor Mike Hintz, whom George W. Bush commended during the 2004 presidential campaign, surrendered to police after admitting to a sexual affair with a female juvenile.

* Republican legislator Peter Dibble pleaded no contest to having an inappropriate relationship with a 13-year-old girl.

* Republican advertising consultant Carey Lee Cramer was charged with molesting his 9-year old step-daughter after including her in an anti-Gore television commercial.

* Republican activist Lawrence E. King, Jr. organized child sex parties at the White House during the 1980s.

* Republican lobbyist Craig J. Spence organized child sex parties at the White House during the 1980s.

* Republican Congressman Donald "Buz" Lukens was found guilty of having sex with a female minor and sentenced to one month in jail.

* Republican fundraiser Richard A. Delgaudio was found guilty of child porn charges and paying two teenage girls to pose for sexual photos.

* Republican activist Mark A. Grethen convicted on six counts of sex crimes involving children.

* Republican activist Randal David Ankeney pleaded guilty to attempted sexual assault on a child.

* Republican Congressman Dan Crane had sex with a female minor working as a congressional page.

* Republican activist and Christian Coalition leader Beverly Russell admitted to an incestuous relationship with his step daughter.

* Republican Judge Ronald C. Kline was placed under house arrest for child molestation and possession of child pornography.

* Republican congressman and anti-gay activist Robert Bauman was charged with having sex with a 16-year-old boy he picked up at a gay bar.

* Republican Committee Chairman Jeffrey Patti was arrested for distributing a video clip of a 5-year-old girl being raped.

* Republican activist Marty Glickman (a.k.a. "Republican Marty"), was taken into custody by Florida police on four counts of unlawful sexual activity with an underage girl and one count of delivering the drug LSD.

* Republican legislative aide Howard L. Brooks was charged with molesting a 12-year old boy and possession of child pornography.

* Republican Senate candidate John Hathaway was accused of having sex with his 12-year old baby sitter and withdrew his candidacy after the allegations were reported in the media.

* Republican preacher Stephen White, who demanded a return to traditional values, was sentenced to jail after offering $20 to a 14-year-old boy for permission to perform oral sex on him.

* Republican talk show host Jon Matthews pleaded guilty to exposing his genitals to an 11 year old girl.

* Republican anti-gay activist Earl "Butch" Kimmerling was sentenced to 40 years in prison for molesting an 8-year old girl after he attempted to stop a gay couple from adopting her.

* Republican Party leader Paul Ingram pleaded guilty to six counts of raping his daughters and served 14 years in federal prison.

* Republican election board official Kevin Coan was sentenced to two years probation for soliciting sex over the internet from a 14-year old girl.

* Republican politician Andrew Buhr was charged with two counts of first degree sodomy with a 13-year old boy.

* Republican politician Keith Westmoreland was arrested on seven felony counts of lewd and lascivious exhibition to girls under the age of 16 (i.e. exposing himself to children).

* Republican anti-abortion activist John Allen Burt was found guilty of molesting a 15-year old girl.

* Republican County Councilman Keola Childs pleaded guilty to molesting a male child.

* Republican activist John Butler was charged with criminal sexual assault on a teenage girl.

* Republican candidate Richard Gardner admitted to molesting his two daughters.

* Republican Councilman and former Marine Jack W. Gardner was convicted of molesting a 13-year old girl.

* Republican County Commissioner Merrill Robert Barter pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual contact and assault on a teenage boy.

* Republican City Councilman Fred C. Smeltzer, Jr. pleaded no contest to raping a 15 year-old girl and served 6-months in prison.

* Republican activist Parker J. Bena pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography on his home computer and was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison and fined $18,000.

* Republican parole board officer and former Colorado state representative, Larry Jack Schwarz, was fired after child pornography was found in his possession.

* Republican strategist and Citadel Military College graduate Robin Vanderwall was convicted in Virginia on five counts of soliciting sex from boys and girls over the internet.

* Republican city councilman Mark Harris, who is described as a "good military man" and "church goer," was convicted of repeatedly having sex with an 11-year-old girl and sentenced to 12 years in prison.

* Republican businessman Jon Grunseth withdrew his candidacy for Minnesota governor after allegations surfaced that he went swimming in the nude with four underage girls, including his daughter.

* Republican director of the "Young Republican Federation" Nicholas Elizondo molested his 6-year old daughter and was sentenced to six years in prison.

* Republican president of the New York City Housing Development Corp. Russell Harding pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography on his computer.

* Republican benefactor of conservative Christian groups, Richard A. Dasen Sr., was found guilty of raping a 15-year old girl. Dasen, 62, who is married with grown children and several grandchildren, has allegedly told police that over the past decade he paid more than $1 million to have sex with a large number of young women.

* Republican Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld authorized the rape of children in Iraqi prisons in order to humiliate their parents into providing information about the anti-American insurgency. See excerpt of one prisoner's report here and his full report here.

[Ilsa]

17. Holy Crap that's a long list. Thanks. eom

[darkmaestro019]

20. Dennis Rader=BTK

* Republican zoning supervisor, Boy Scout leader and Lutheran church president Dennis L. Rader pleaded guilty to performing a sexual act on an 11-year old girl he murdered.

Right there. As much as I hate the trickiness of it the original author of this list might want to point that up a bit more. "BTK" has a lot more resonance than "guilty to performing........."

[newyawker99]

53. Disgusting!

:puke:

:puke:

:puke:

[The_Casual_Observer]

14. "a noted social conservative" one of those I hate poor people

assholes. I hope he "trips and falls" in the prison shower.

[leveymg]

15. Wonder what he needed the money so badly for?

The guy probably makes $80-90K. Bad gambling debts to Abramoff? Repayment to Bulldog for services performed? Trying to raise capital for call-options on Iranian oil futures?

[Blue_Tires]

24. exactly

and believe me, his salary was probably MUCH more than that....and even so, he was still a cheap, petty lowlife punk thief with the mentality of a juvenile scumbag...I'd be willing to bet he's the type of guy that tilts pinball machines, rigs the dollar changer on vending machines, and jams up parking meters....

NOTHING is too big or small for this admin, especially since no laws seem to apply to them...who in the admin ISN'T a hardcore thief?

[Canuckistanian]

25. I was wondering that myself

You figure a guy that close to the top could easily get some "help" if he needed it. Give him his own "charity" to run, etc....

Maybe he's got a sickness and needs to steal to show his worth around the WH.

[never cry wolf]

33. It must have been an illness, or hobby, check out his resume

JD from Duke, the guy had it made, I and sure he didn't NEED the $5,000.00 worth of stuff for free, unless maybe it was for a babe on the side he couldn't allow to be known.

http://www.usdoj.gov/olp/allenresume.htm

Hmmm, interesting, apparently he is a flaming homophobe, maybe the goodies were for a Jeff Gannon like figure? Here's a google search, alot of info:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22claude+allen%22&btnG=Google+Search

One of them here:

The appointment of Claude Allen as Bush's new chief domestic policy advisor is another triumph for the Republican theocrats. A reactionary black kapo, Allen is one of the darlings of the "family values" ultra-conservative religious right led by James Dobson and his Focus on the Family.

Recruited by Karl Rove as his watchdog on then-HHS secretary Tommy Thompson (who had a much-exaggerated reputation as a "moderate"), Allen--a visceral political homophobe-- was a former top aide Sen. Jesse Helms, and in 1984 accused Helms' Democratic challenger, then-Gov. James Hunt, of having links to "queers," "radical feminists," socialists, and unions (Hunt was, in fact, a bible-quoting right-wing Dem).

http://direland.typepad.com/direland/2005/01/claude_allen_bu.html

Wow, an african-american good looking repuke with a JD from Duke, he certainly didn't need the items, very strange...

[tabasco]

50. Never underestimate the power of greed.

It's why we're in this mess right now.

[Tinksrival]

49. 161,000 to be exact.

As a *ush senior advisor, he makes the same as kkKarl. I don't think it was about the $$$. I think Allen has "issues"

[kenny blankenship]

16. Nature or Nurture? Scientists puzzle over what makes Republicans thugs

An hypothetical headline for an article that I'm sure we'll be seeing in Time or Newsweek soon.

[RufusEarl]

18. Just in time for the Friday news cycle! Go figure!

[cassiepriam]

22. Now he is really qualified for high office in the Bush regime.

Will be a very good aide to Cheney or Rove.

[EFerrari]

23. Geezus. Bush has populated his government with petty thieves.

Where are our statesmen?

What in the world has happened here?

I hope the freeps have a big umbrella because they're going to need one.

[remfan]

26. Oh, have some fun and Google "Claude Allen"

bush nominated him to the 4th circuit court of appeals in 2003 (it was eventually defeated by the Dems). This is what C. Boyden Gray had to say about the nominee:

http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/gray200407070947.asp

Claude Allen promises not to advance a political agenda from the federal bench he has been nominated to, but to be the type of judge who buttresses the foundation of American government — by applying the rule of law however he finds it. President Bush, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, could do much worse than Allen. By the grace of democratic principles overriding a minority in the Senate, let us hope they do not have to.

http://direland.typepad.com/direland/2005/01/claude_allen_bu.html

Recruited by Karl Rove as his watchdog on then-HHS secretary Tommy Thompson (who had a much-exaggerated reputation as a "moderate"), Allen--a visceral political homophobe-- was a former top aide Sen. Jesse Helms, and in 1984 accused Helms' Democratic challenger, then-Gov. James Hunt, of having links to "queers," "radical feminists," socialists, and unions (Hunt was, in fact, a bible-quoting right-wing Dem).

[gratuitous]

28. I wonder if old Claude still believes in the rule of law

I hope the judge throws the book at him.

[never cry wolf]

35. First thing I did too, check out my post 33 above

Very interesting character!

[remfan]

41. Great minds and all that

I was in hysterics reading some of the stuff I pulled up. Family Research Council, and all sorts of conservative sites praising him to the heavens, and urging their little minions to tell bush to appoint another 'family values' conservative in his place. Too funny. And then finding George-I-wanna-be-your-next-preznit-Allen was an early fan and helped get Claude the federal gig...priceless.

How does one go from being a nominee to the federal bench to being accused of 'refund fraud'?

[The Backlash Cometh]

27. OH, my God.

I thought the rule was that you had to get away with these chump felonies BEFORE you would be considered for a Bush appointment.

You know the moral of this story? If you're going to be corrupt, you better be competent about it.

[NoAmericanTaliban]

29. Say it ain't so.. a social conservative being arrested :)

[Catrina]

30. 'When Claude Allen, President Bush's longtime domestic-policy adviser'

So, a petty thief was Bush's 'longtime domestic policy adviser!! Too bad they haven't gone after him for the grand theft he and Bush have perpetrated on the American people!

It is truly infuriating how many criminals this president brought into the WH with him.

It makes you wonder about the whole electoral process ~ only one of the large cabal of crooks currently in charge of things in this country even ran for election. Every criminal he could find, and he got away with it, except with one or two, like Bernie Kerik who were exposed by the NY media ~ it's as though he looks for crooks to help him rip off the country.

[Sydnie]

32. post 26 above should really rock your world!

My jaw is still on the floor!

[Catrina]

39. Omg! I just read it. Bush wanted to put him on the circuit court of

appeals!!

According to the third link, he worked for Jesse Helms during the eighties. He must have been in his 20s back then, but apparently had a lot to say about a Democratic Governor. So, he's been around politics since he was a kid! Another 'Young Republican I bet.

Unbelievable!! There is such an element of spite in all his nominations. This guy was rejected by the Dems for the Circuit Court, so Bush makes sure to give him a job in spite of them.

There needs to be a blog set up purely for keeping track of past and present Young Republican criminals, ie, Abramoff, Kidan, Norquist, Allen et al. And we are definitely going to need a photo gallery of all those indicted Republicans since this administration took office ~ with mugshots!! What a great election tool that would be since the media barely mentions the almost daily chronicles of Republican crime.



Another former Young Republican indicted!

[Sydnie]

40. Imagine this crook ... as a judge!

Just goes to show he has NO standards at all ... just favors to repay.

[Sydnie]

51. I had forgotten about Bernie Kerik!

Imagine what it would have been like if he had been in charge of HLS when katrina hit?

it boggles the mind. He would have been out there trying to tazer the hurricane to make it stop!

[RazzleDazzle]

31. Another Republican sicko comes face to face with reality

Ka-BOOM!

[FreedomAngel82]

34. Oh good grief

How lame can you get. :eyes:

[Cha]

36. This guy sounds sick in the head as

well as corrupt. Why would someone making the big bucks resort to taking back unpurchased shit to target and hecht stores?

[Joe Fields]

38. Does Bush have anyone working for him that isn't corrupt?

[AlCzervik]

42. Lock'em all up, it would be easier.

[dmr]

43. It's people like this, I suspect, that Rove can control -

I'm sure Rove already of knew Allen's little 'problem'. How easy it would be for Rove to get this guy, or anyone with a 'past' to tow the line, to do the dirty little deeds, or face being ratted out.

In this case, perhaps Target and the Montgomery County PD prematurely put an end to this Rove/Allen collaboration.

Or maybe, it was the other way around. What if Allen wanted out and Rove set him up as being a 'refund frauder'.

I'm just thinking, is all ...

[yellowcanine]

44. It will be fun hearing Scotty try to explain this. This happened Feb 9

and we are just now finding out? The guy resigned to "spend more time with his family? An Appeals Court Nominee????????? Did the administration withdraw his nomination yet? OTOH, at least he will know the "other side" of the court system.

[Marr]

45. Bush's domestic policy advisor was a guy who just plain loves to steal.

People who pull these sorts of crimes usually don't need the money. They just love the rush they get from stealing.

And this guy was one of Bush's advisors. His DOMESTIC POLICY advisor no less. That's real encouraging.

[yellowcanine]

46. Check it out. Freeper trying to look on the bright side,,,,,,,,

The hilarious part about this is that the Democrats saved the Bush Administration from the embarassment of having a sitting federal judge arrested for a charge that is darn close to shoplifting.

Once again the filibuster backfires on the Dems!

17 posted on 03/10/2006 5:15:36 PM PST by Southack (Media Bias means that Castro won't be punished for Cuban war crimes against Black Angolans in Africa)


To read the whole thread of woe is us.....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1594209/posts

[kpete]

47. Should I sell This to The Enquirer?

Should I sell This to The Enquirer?

[kpete]

48. digby

But here's the real kicker about Allen. From Josh Marshall, back in September 2005


(September 12, 2005 -- 02:10 AM EDT)

Not sure what to make of this small tidbit. But while I was confirming some new entries in our Katrina timeline tonight, I noticed something I hadn't heard before. According to Scott McClellan's August 31st gaggle, in the early days of Katrina, the White House Katrina task force was being run by Claude Allen.

Allen's title at the White House is Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy. But he's basically the social policy czar, big into abstinence only education, stem-cell restrictions, stuff like that.

This may simply have been a matter of convening meetings -- I have no idea. But still it seemed an odd choice.

................

Very odd. In the worst natural disaster in American history the Bush administration's response was assigned to a shoplifting religious extremist and a crony from the arabian horseshow association while the head of homeland security flew off to give a speech. The president and John McCain laughed and ate cake. This is Republican governance.

The administration has known about this for over a month. They lied reflexively and said he had resigned to spend more time with his family. Did they think this wouldn't come out?

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2006_03_01_digbysblog_archive.html#114204452215863975

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

52. Good lord. All he had to do was become a lobbyist and he'd be worth

tens of millions in shrubco world! Sheesh, but it doesn't have the thrill of the chase, eh?

[Wordie]

54. This, from the guy who helped bring us the "personal responsibility" meme!

Amazing.

Allen has touted welfare reform at both the state and federal levels. While working for Gilmore, he stated that, “Today, Virginia does not allow individuals simply to receive assistance indefinitely at the expense of others.” (61)
At HHS, he has pushed for block grants for states and a 40-hour workweek for recipients of government money, (62) as part of the reauthorization of welfare reform. (63) In his speeches, Allen has continued to emphasize self-reliance, implying and stating explicitly that smaller government will be better for Americans. (64) He has also asserted that” “Personal responsibility is . . . key. (emphasis mine)

63 Claude Allen, Address to the Richmond Chapter of the Federalist Society, May 8, 2002.